DEN Blackboard Portal Instructions
The Distance Education Network uses Blackboard Learning System 6.2 into our Course Management System for faculty and students. By incorporating Blackboard into our services, more tools are now available to our faculty and students while online. Click here for the student manual for Blackboard with instructions on using the new tools (5 MB PDF).

After logging in to DEN’s Blackboard portal, you will be directed to the start page. On the left side, you will see your “Tools” box. The center of the screen displays “My Announcements.” The right side will list “My Courses.” Please note, a majority of the Tools are available to off campus DEN students only.

“Tools Area”

  • Announcements - Displays the latest information regarding DEN policy updates and system changes
  • View Grades - Displays your grades for registered course(s)
  • Send Emai l- Send email to professor, TA, and/or class members of registered course
  • DEN Essentials - Provides important information for either on campus or off campus students (ie, homework submission, course enrollment instructions, forms, policies, etc.)
  • DEN Tools - Central area for DEN off campus students to update profile and course information
    • Course Evaluations - Fill out form at the end of the semester for professor/course evaluation
    • Enrollment History - View entire list of courses taken
    • Important Enrollment Instructions - Step-by-step instructions on how to enroll in a course as admitted, on campus, or ncp
    • Add/Activate Course - You must finish this step before you can view your courses.
      1. From the dropdown menu, make sure the current semester is selected.
      2. Click “Submit”
      3. Read the Buckley waiver form.
      4. After reading the form, click “Accept.” You will then be able to see your courses on the start page. You only have to accept this form once per semester.
    • Drop courses - Instructions on how to withdraw from a course for admitted, limited, ncp, and on campus students.
    • View Invoice - Displays financial information
    • Non Credit Participant Form - Use only if you plan to take courses for non-university credit.
      1. Select the course from the drop down menu.
      2. Click “Submit”
    • View Profile - Displays your personal information on file with our administration department. Please check to make sure all of your information is consistent with our records.
    • Change Password - After receiving a password, it can be changed. Enter your old password and new password twice before hitting “Submit.”
    • Request Site Change - Change your site information before hitting “Submit.”
    • Request Status Change - Change your status as a student before hitting “Submit.”
    • Schedule of Courses - Lists schedule of classes, academic schedule, and final exam dates by semester.

“My Announcements”

This section on the start page displays the latest announcements from DEN and your professor.

“My Courses”

This section on the start page displays the courses you are enrolled in for the semester. Click on the course link to access your course page. As soon as you get to the course page, you will see a table of contents to the left and a set of announcements in the main frame.

  • Course Lectures - Displays archive of entire course lectures for all students. Provides off campus students with live links.
  • DEN Homework - Off campus DEN students can download homework fax form, check homework submissions, and download graded homework
  • Course Information - Posted by professor
  • Staff Information - Posted by professor
  • Course Documents - Displays files usually containing lecture notes. The “DEN Documents” link displays a list of all files posted by the document center.
  • Assignments - Course assignments listed here (sometimes in “Course Documents”)
  • Communication - Central access for students, professor, and TAs to discuss class material
    • Collaboration - Virtual classrooms include chat functions and whiteboard
    • Discussion Board - Threaded discussions provide forum community interaction
    • Group Pages - Displays group information within the class
    • Roster - Displays names and email addresses of class members.
      a. To find a specific person, type the last name, username, or email address in the blank field and click “Search.”
      b. To display entire class roster, hit the “List All” tab and click “List All.”
    • Send Email - Send email to individual students, groups, or entire class
    • Discussion Board - Threaded discussions provide forum for community interaction. Especially useful for discussing complex lecture material.

* The “Control Panel” feature provides an alternate access to each function of Blackboard’s course management system and is not available to student participants.

Still have questions? E-mail webclass@usc.edu or call (213) 821-1231.